Woman Spinning Yarn by an Arch 1764

Francesco Londonio created this print, "Woman Spinning Yarn by an Arch," using etching, a form of printmaking with a long and rich history. Here, we see how the fine lines made possible by the etching process can achieve a striking level of detail. Londonio’s choice of etching for this pastoral scene isn't accidental. The medium itself has a fascinating relationship to labor. Unlike painting, printmaking allows for the easy creation of multiples, echoing the efficiencies of industrial production. Yet the handwork involved in etching – applying the ground, incising the design, and pulling the print – reminds us of slower, pre-industrial modes of production. Consider the labor embodied in the woman's spinning. From sheep to yarn, the transformation speaks of long hours of work, contrasting with the seemingly effortless distribution of the printed image. Seeing both together allows us to think about class, labor, and the changing landscape of production in Londonio’s time.